Key holder



T. GOSSELIN May 16, 1939.

KEY HOLDER Filed April 1, 1938 2 m1 W 5 0 a ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 16, 1939 PAT ENT OFFICE KEY HOLDER I Thomas Gosselin, Attleboro,

Mass., assignor to Swank Froducts, Inc., a corporationof Delaware Application April 1, 199a, Serial No. 199,992 11 Claims.. (or; 10456) -.'I-'his invention relates to keyholders; and has for-one of-,its objects to provide a key holder stmcturehaving a split construction of key re-' taining' loop providing. relatively movable sections in'which-the'partswill be of'simple formation and inexpensive of manufacture. -;Another object of the invention is to provide a key ringof the above character in' which mechanical means are employed for moving the split sections relative to each otherto permit ready positioning or removal o-fa'key.

..-;1 \notherxobject of the invention" isthe provisiongof-a key holder havinga split key-retain ingaloop whichwill hold the keys in' place yet be capable of limited; movement of the loop parts relative to each other 'for' ready positioning I or removal ofthe'key; h

'1 Another object: ofnthe invention is the p vision of a meansseparate from the key retaini r partsrto influence separation or meeting of the parts and to provide a key retaining loop in the closed position of the parts. 7

;-Another object of the'invention is the provision of means to positively move the split sections of the key retaining loop into separated or into connected relation, which means may be conveniently operated bya slight rotary motion between the thumb and finger of the user.

Another object of the invention is the provision of. a closed key retaining loop of a sectional construction in which the parts are capable of relative movement toward and from each other and a means which actuates the sections is capable of--positively holding the parts in separated or in connected relation.

Another objectof the invention is the simplicity of the structure of thedevice and the presentation of an attractive appearance of the parts exposed to view.

Another object of the invention is a simple, detachableconnection'of the parts and yet one whichis effective in their operation; 'With' these andother objects in view, the invention consists 'of certain novel features of construction, as -willbe more'fully described, and particularlypointedout in the appended claims.

In-the accompanyingdrawing: I Fig. 1 is a front view of a key holder. constructed 50 in accordancewithmy invention, showing the parts of the keyloop in their connected or closed key retainingposition;

Fig. 2zisa 'sideedgeview of.the" key holder- 'shown in Fig. 1; 55 Fig. 3 is a front view of the key holder shown may be selected in Fig. 1, certain of the parts being partly broken away to show the actuating mechanism;

'Fig. 4 is a front view, partly in section, of the key holder shown in Fig. 3, showing the key retaining'parts in a separated'position for admit- 5 ting the keys;

Fig. 5 s a cross-sectional view taken on the line 5'5' of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of 1 the movable arm 'members forming one section of'the main key retaining loop;

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of the head member to which are hinged the movable arm members;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the actuating screw for causing a separation or a meeting of the movable arm members;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the rotatable nut for causing reciprocation of the actuat- 20 mg screw.

It is desirable in key holders of the type having a closedkey retaining loop constructionto provide somestructure which will permit the ready positioningor removal of one or more of the individual'keys without interfering with the order of the other keys in the group held on the key retaining member, and to detach whatever key without the necessity for removing a' considerable number of the keys car- 30 ried upon the key loop; and in order to provide anextremely simple device for satisfying this desired result, I have provided a key holder structure in which the key retaining loop is of a separable or split construction and formed of two hinged arm members which are so constructed and arranged that they are relatively movable to bring their'free ends into separated or into connected relation whenputting keys on and ofl' the key loop, and these free end portions of the 40 arm members are bent transversely thereof to provide inwardly extending portions so arranged that their terminal ends will be substantially aligned and conneced in the closed position of the arm members for providing the transverse hanger member on which the keys are carried; and Ihave further provided means at the end of one of the extensions of which the hanger member is formed so arranged that it will have interfitting engagement with the terminal end of the corresponding extension of the opposite arm member when in their closed position to form a closed key'loop; and I have further provided positive mechanical means in the form of a rotary member separate from the arm members of the split loop acting at the hinged ends of the same and capable of manual operation by frlctionally turning between the flesh of the thumb and. a finger of the user and rotated to cause relative rocking movement of the loop sections into a separated or into a connected position to open and close the same as desired; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous resuits may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates generally the novel key holder structure and comprises a head H which may be of any desired contour and formed either of cast metal or a metal stamping. The head H is provided with an enlarged bottom portion l2 from which depends the main key carrying loop as indicated generally at l3 which in the form shown is of a split or separable construction forming a closed loop of stirrup-shaped outline, but is not limited to such contour as it may have the general form of a partial ring or comprise a member having other common geometric shapes.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, the key retaining loop I3 is made up of two sections and comprises two oppositely disposed arm members [4 and I5 which are pivotally attached at their upper ends to the lower part of the enlarged portion l2 of the head ll of the key holder at oppositely disposed positions thereof, by means of the pivot pins 16 and I! respectively, passing through suitable holes l8 and I9 formed in the respective arm members, so that the latter are relatively movable with reference to each other in the same plane so as to bring the free ends of the arm members into separated or into connected relation with each other for providing a key opening at one time and a closed key loop at another time. The arm members l4 and I5 may be formed of suitable material and be of any desired crosssectional shape, but in the present construction each is shown as being formed of solid metal of round cross-section. The arm members HI and I5 are each of substantially the same construction except at their free ends, so that it is only necessary to describe but one of such members, thus in Fig. 6, the arm member I4 is shown as having an upper portion 20 bent to present an arcuate outline curving progressively downwardly from the pivot end of the arm member to form one side wall of a stirrup-shaped key loop. The lower end of the arcuate arm portion 20 is transversely bent as indicated at 2| to provide the inwardly extending hanger portion 22, the terminal end of which is provided with a stud portion 23 which is so arranged and of such shape that it will enter and have interfitting engagement with a correspondingly shaped opening 24 formed in the terminal end face of the cooperating hanger extension 25 of the opposite arm member l5 when in the closed position of the arm members, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The enlarged portion l2 of the head H is provided with a channel 26 extending lengthwise of its undersurface to receive the U-shaped ears 2! and 28 which are struck out of the flattened stock of the pivot end portions of the arms I4 and I5 respectively, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The head II also is provided with a central bore 30 extending axially thereof at right angles to the channel 26 and communicating therewith to form a guideway for a reciprocable screw 3| having a flanged portion 32 which is disposed withm the channel 26 and projects into the U-.

shaped cars 21 and 28 of the arm members M and I5 to have connection therewith at diametrically opposite positions of the screw 3 l. A rotary nut 33 disposed within an enlarged opening 34 formed laterally of the head! I, has screw threaded opening 35 for connection with the threads on the shank of the screw 3| and provides a means for reciprocating the screw longitudinally of the bore 39 in order to positively move the arm members I4 and I5 about their pivots simultaneously into open or into closed position.

In use, the arm members l4 and I5 normally are in closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, with one or more of the keys carried in a suspended position by the bottom cross arm of the key loop formed by connection of the respective extensions 22 and 25 of the arm members l4 and I5. When it is desired to remove a key from the key loop or to place another key thereon one simply slides the different keys which are to be retained to a location at one side of the split and then manipulates the rotary nut member 33 between his thumb and forefinger in the proper direction to force the screw 3| inwardly or downwardly of the bore 30 and consequently move the head portion 32 sufficiently to swing the arm members l4 and I5 outwardly to separate their free ends, thereby providing a space between the terminal ends through which the desired key or keys may be passed to admit them to or to withdraw them from the cross bar extensions 22 and 25 respectively. If it is desired to position a key, the procedure then is reversed, in which instance the arm members l4 and I5 are first separated to provide a key opening through which the key is passed and placed on eitherof the cross bar extensions 22 or 25, after which the rotary member 33 is manipulated as above explained but in the opposite direction to draw in the screw 3! outwardly or downwardly of the bore 30 and move the arm members [4 and I5 together with their free ends into interfitting connection to provide the closed key loop.

The member 33 operates with sufficient friction so that it will not accidentally turn or rotate when in the pocket, thus rendering it substantially impossible for the keys to be removed except by manipulation of the rotary nut. A ring 36 passed through a suitable hole 31 formed in the top end of the head H serves for attachment of the key holder to a chain, swivel hook or other suitable means, as is usual in devices of this character, for fastening the keys topart of the clothing of the user.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A key holder comprising a key retaining loop split to provide two sections, the corresponding end portions of said section being in contactable relation, and the opposite end portions of each loop section being hingedly related so as to provide for the relative movement of one section toward and from the other, and means to cause such relative movement.

2. A key holder comprising a closed key retaining loop formed in two sections each of which is pivoted at one end and both being relatively movable to bring their free ends into separated or into connected relation to permit the ready positioning or removal of a key and retention of I the same, and means acting on said sections for causing a relative movement of the same to opened or to closed position.

3. A key holder comprising a closed key retaining loop formed in two sections each of which is pivoted at one end and both being relatively movable to bring their free ends into separated or into connected relation to permit the ready positioning or removal of a key and retention of the same, and reciprocable means separate from said sections and acting thereon to cause such relative movement into opened or into closed position.

4. A key holder comprising a head, two members pivoted at one end to said head and relatively movable to bring the free end portions into separated or into abutting relation for forming a closed key retaining loop when in the abutting position, a movable member having a portion connected with each of said pivoted member, and means for moving said movable member for causing a relative movement of said pivoted members into separated or into closed position.

5. A key holder comprising a head, two members pivoted at one end to said head and relatively movable to bring the free end portions into separated or into connected relation for forming a closed key retaining loop when in the connected position, a reciprocable member having a portion connected with each of said pivoted members, and means for reciprocating said member for causing a relative movement of said pivoted members into separated or into closed position, and means on said head for the attachment of a chain or the like.

6. A key holder comprising a head, two generally curvilinear arm members pivoted at one end to said head and relatively movable to bring the free end portions into separated or into connected relation for forming a closed key retaining loop when in the connected position, a movable member having a portion connected with each of said pivoted members, and rotary means separate from said arm members and movably secured to said movable members for manually moving said movable member for causing a relative movement of said pivoted into closed position. v

7. A key holder comprising a head, two arm members hinged at one end to said head and relatively movable to bring the free end portions into separated or into connected relation for forming a closed key retaining loop in the connected position of said members, a screw having an enlarged portion connected with each of said arm members, a. guideway for said screw, and means positioned in said head for manually reciprocating said screw in said guideway for causing relative movement of said hinged arm members into closed or into open position.

8. A key holder comprising a head provided with a channel, two depending arm members in said channel, each arm member being hinged at one end to said head and relatively movableto bring the free end portions into separated or into members into separated or connected relation for forming a closed key retaining loop in the connected position of said members, a screw having an enlarged head connected with each of said members at oppositely disposed points, a guideway in said head for said screw, and rotary means positioned in said head for manually reciprocating said screw in said guideway for causing relative movement of said hinged members into closed or into open position.

9. A key holder having a split key-retaining loop structure comprising a pair of arm members hingedly connected at one end and relatively movable to bring the free ends thereof into separated or into connected relation with each other, the free end portions of each of the members being bent transversely thereof to form inwardly extending portions so arranged that their terminal ends will be aligned and interlocked in the closed position of the arm members to form a unitary key supporting member yet provide a key admitting opening in the separated position of the members for the ready positioning or removal of a key, and means acting on said members for causing a relative movement of said members to effect a separation or a union of the free end portions of said extensions.

10. A key holder having a split key-retaining loop structure comprising a pair of arm members 'ngedly connected at one end and relatively movable to bring the free ends thereof into separated or into connected relation with each other, the free end portions of each of the members being bent transversely thereof to form inwardly extending portions so arranged that their terminal ends will be aligned and connected in the closed position of the members to form a unitary key supporting member yet provide an opening therebetween in the separated position of the members for the ready positioning or removal of a key, and means acting on the hinged end portion of said members to exert pressure thereon for causing a relative movement of said members to efiect a separation or a contacting relation of the free end portions thereof.

11. A key holder comprising a head having an enlarged lateral opening intermediate the ends thereof and provided with a channeled end and a bore extending between said channel and said opening, two depending arm members pivoted at one end in said channel located at oppositely disposed points thereof and relatively movable to bring the free end portions into separated or into connected relationfor forming a closed split key retaining loop in the connected position of said arm members, a screw reciprocably mounted in said bore and having a portion connected with 

